Coral reefs support an extraordinary proportion

Position 1: Marine biologists therefore argue that reducing global carbon emissions is the single most critical step toward preserving these underwater ecosystems.

Position 2: However, rising sea temperatures caused by climate change are triggering mass bleaching events, during which corals expel the symbiotic algae essential to their survival.

Position 3: Coral reefs support an extraordinary proportion of marine biodiversity despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor.

Position 4: Without those algae, the corals lose both their colour and their primary energy source, leaving entire reef systems vulnerable to collapse.

Position 5: These ecosystems provide habitat, breeding grounds, and food sources for approximately twenty-five percent of all known marine species.